With much anticipation and nail biting, the Bonneville Lock reopened in the past two days. A failure of some concrete on a sill necessitated a shutdown of the lock and some fast track repairs. None of this hullabaloo was apparent as we calmly and uneventfully transited the lock this morning. At Cascade Locks, we took off for our morning adventure to Stevenson, Washington and the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center. An eclectic mix of displays and a very enthusiastic docent kept our attention and assisted us in learning more about this pocket of the Pacific Northwest. A scrumptious lunch was served at Mountain View Orchards and the pear and apple bins were brimming full with this year’s crop. A walk at the Mosier Tunnels finished off the afternoon for some of us while others investigated the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum. Altogether a diverse and interesting day in the Columbia River Gorge.
10/8/2024
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National Geographic Sea Bird
Columbia River and Crow Butte Island
Day three of National Geographic Sea Bird ’s eastbound voyage came with remarkably calm and comfortable weather as there was barely a breath of wind along a stretch of the Columbia River that's typically rather breezy. Guests who chose the morning hike of Crow Butte Park soon peeled off a layer of clothing after their ten-minute Zodiac trip. Conditions that would frustrate a windsurfer made for carefree kayaking. Their reward was an assortment of beverages that included fresh-pressed apple juice, Seven Hills Winery 2022 rosé, and Powers Winery 2018 cabernet sauvignon. The backdrop included award-winning Discovery Vineyard and the historic Mercer family's Spice Cabinet Vineyard. After lunch, the thermometer hit 80, making for a pleasant trip to McNary Dam and Lock. Educator/Naturalist Kerri McAllister, a 2016 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow, shared the story of the late J. Harlen Bretz, the geologist whose long-ridiculed theory about the Missoula Floods proved correct. National Geographic Sea Bird traveled nearly 60 miles on this day to drop anchor near the confluence of the Columbia and Snake Rivers and Sacajawea State Park. The evening's program in the lounge was highlighted by Naturalist Linda Burback's presentation, “Edible Aspects of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.”